Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend I.Alizade / The Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Valeh Aleskerov, said on 3 October in Baku at a meeting of the Culture, Education and Science Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is, in no way, linked to national, ethnic or religious discriminations. According to him, national, ethnic and religious discriminations have never been in existence in Azerbaijan.
" Azerbaijan has always been tolerant towards various nations, religions and ethnic peoples. It is observed today as well," Aleskerov said.
The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus started in 1988 due to territorial claims by Armenia against Azerbaijan. Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992, these territories have been under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which time active hostilities ended. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) are currently holding peaceful negotiations.
According to Aleskerov, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was committed by separate political groups who come to power and do not want to give it up. Currently these political forces present obstacles to the conflict settlement in order to stay in power.
The representative from Armenia, parliamentarian Stephan Safaryan, also arrived in Baku to attend the meeting.